Sunday, June 13, 1943
Algiers, North Africa

June 13, 1943 Diary Page

Today has been obviously Sunday. In every village and town we passed through the people were all dressed up in their best and walking out along the country roads. The population has shown a decided increase in whites and they are a pronounced French. These people through this section we passed through today are very friendly and wave or call “Bon Voyage” as we go by. Some of the girls are very attractive but that does so little good now. The country we have passed through today has taken a turn for the worse. About the only thing they grow is wheat or some of the other grains and very few trees or even bushes spot the landscape. It’s pretty barren and hot as the devil. We stopped at noon after parking behind a slow British convoy for three hours, clearing them by about ten miles. To avoid doing the same I sent Sgt. Pine back a couple miles in the Jeep to watch for them. In about ten minutes somebody came by and told us there was a Jeep turned over about a mile up the road. We tore off and sure enough it had gone into a ditch bounced up and turned over and things were strewn everywhere. Pine was lying on his back with an old Arab trying to bring him too (sic). They had pulled him from underneath. He wasn’t hurt but was skinned up and shocked a little. He had been driving along a straight stretch and had passed out. A nurse happened by and fixed him up. She said it was quite a frequent experience in this country. Our $100.00 radio was totaly (sic) demolished and the Jeep will just run. Everything happens to us.

Good night.

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The Day That Was: June 13, 1943

1943 Diary Recaps

January 1943 Recap: We first met Lt. Reichard in January, stationed at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento, where he was in charge of a motor pool unit. Expecting to be sent overseas, their orders were changed and they became restless to see action. Lt. Reichard’s sweetheart, Ginnie, would write frequently, and he would go to dinner and movies with local girls – Dorothy, in Sacramento, and Marie, when the unit moved to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. The men have spent their days in lectures, and physical demonstrations to try to keep sharp mentally and physically. But they are getting increasingly restless.

February 1943 Recap: The unit continues to be restless as they still haven’t any orders for overseas. The days are kept busy with lectures, physical demonstrations, and frequent hikes in the mountains above Boise. Lt. Reichard receives a promotion to Lieutenant First Class and continues to write to Ginnie back home, though her letters are becoming more infrequent. February 1943 comes to an end with the unit still feeling bored and discouraged.

March 1943 Recap: March brings uncertainties in weather and daily life to Gowen Field. Still no word about overseas orders, the outfit must now share quarters with another unit. There is now time to begin a photo album, collecting pictures from times with the outfit. Letters from Ginnie are becoming more infrequent but there is no shortage of dates with the local girls in Boise. March comes to an end with everyone in the outfit anxiously awaiting word of upcoming furloughs.

April 1943 Recap: Last minute furloughs come through, and Lt. Reichard returns home to Maryland for some time with his family on the farm. He and Ginnie have a chance to talk things over and hopefully save the relationship. Just before leaving Boise, the unit gets orders that a move will come at the end of April. April comes to an end with the men spending a week in Stockton, California getting ready to ship out. But where they are going remains a mystery.

May 1943 Recap: The long journey begins by train as the outfit travels cross country to Camp Shanks, New York, where they will prepare to head overseas.  Lt. Reichard now knows the destination:  Casablanca, Morocco in North Africa.  After ensuring that all the supplies are in order, the outfit boards the “West Point”, the newest in troop carriers and heads to sea.  Lt. Reichard spends many peaceful evenings enjoying the time at sea before landing in Morocco.  May ends with the outfit setting up camp and adjusting to the customs of Morocco.

Lt. Reichard’s WWII Diary Project : On January 1, 2009, WorthPoint began a three year project following the life of a WWII soldier through the daily pages of his diary. To read about the inception of this project, or to add your own comments, click here.

Production Credits:
Diary transcription: Kathleen Long

Diary photos: Claudia Forbes

Video production: Alison Harder

Narration: Mountain Vista H.S. Theater Department

Jeremy Goldson, Department Chair; Bryan Smith – voice of Lt. Reichard

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